Jessica Ridgeway’s Alleged Murderer Wanted To Be A Mortician

Colorado teen Austin Reed Sigg, 17, who was arrested after the murder and dismemberment of Jessica Ridgeway, 10, displayed some unusual behavior, including a knife collection and obsession with mortuary science.

Two weeks after 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway‘s body was found in an open field close to her Denver-area home, Colorado police arrested 17-year-old Austin Reed Sigg in connection with her murder. Classmates of the teen say he was a “brilliant student,” and had had an interest in collecting knives.

According to CBS4, police made the arrest on Oct. 23 after Austin’s mom called authorities saying her son had confessed to the murder.

“I made the phone call, and he turned himself in. That’s all I have to say,” the teen’s mom told the Associated Press.

When police arrived at the home, he allegedly told authorities that some of the human remains were in a crawl space under the home.

Police also say they will file charges against the teen in connection with a May 28 abduction attempt of a 22-year-old jogger. The woman told police that she fought of a stranger who grabbed her from behind and put a rag that smelled of chemicals over her mouth. Police have not identified the connection between the two cases.

Rachel Bradley, a classmate of Austin’s, told the Associated Press Austin was interested in mortuary science, and had enrolled at Arapahoe Community College, which has a mortuary science program. Another former classmate, Austin Caisse, said Austin was a “brilliant student,” and had an interest in Japanese anime and collecting knives.

He is being held at a juvenile detention facility in Lakewood, Colo., and is expected to be charged with two counts of murder in the first degree and kidnapping in the second degree.